The Bauer Foundation
The Bauer Foundation is a private foundation based in Lakeville, Connecticut. Created by Fred and Ruth Bauer, it provides indirect scholarship assistance for undergraduate college education to students residing in Connecticut Regional School District One, based on merit and need.
The Bauer Foundation at a glance
In short: The Bauer Foundation gave $70K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $69,992
- -30.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- -23.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,384
- -8.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $883,922
- -2.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Bauer Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists a scholarship application form and a restriction that applicants reside in Regional School District 1. It names Stuyvesant K. Bearns as the contact for the application process. The website says the 2026–2027 application process is closed and directs applicants to check back for 2027–2028 forms.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists June 15, 2022, a past deadline.
- Deadline
- The filing lists June 15, 2022, a past deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Stuyvesant K Bearns
Mailing address: Co Shipman Goodman, Porter Street, Lakeville, CT 06039
Phone: (860) 435-2539
Website: HTTP://WWW.BAUERFUNDFOUNDATION.ORG/
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Bauer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
78 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 78 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars in filing year 2024 went to recipients in Connecticut. The foundation’s website describes its scholarship assistance as serving students residing in Connecticut Regional School District One.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Bauer Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 80% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $67K (2020) to $100K (2023). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $70K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 13 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $69,992 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $883,922 | $66,864 | $93,253 | $69,992 | 13 | $76,691 | $40,894 | $96,297 |
| 2023 | $903,811 | $110,172 | $139,091 | $100,000 | 17 | $114,719 | $71,244 | $85,877 |
| 2022 | $934,191 | $202,794 | $106,097 | $83,500 | 15 | $88,589 | $170,544 | $84,691 |
| 2021 | $836,033 | $98,289 | $99,947 | $78,001 | 11 | $83,459 | $64,673 | $92,260 |
| 2020 | $838,010 | $109,388 | $86,995 | $66,840 | 22 | — | $91,985 | $76,713 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bauer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $96K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides scholarship assistance for undergraduate education. Its website describes the assistance as indirect and says eligibility is based on merit and need for students residing in Connecticut Regional School District One.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave $69,992 through 13 grants. The grants ranged from $3,746 to $7,754, with a median of $5,000. The listed 2024 grants were scholarships to individual recipients.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Stuyvesant K. Bearns as trustee.
The Bauer Foundation is led by Stuyvesant K. Bearns, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stuyvesant K. Bearns
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $2K, to Stuyvesant K Bearns (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Bauer Foundation
How much does The Bauer Foundation give each year?
The Bauer Foundation gave $70K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $100K across 17 grants.
What is The Bauer Foundation's typical grant size?
The Bauer Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,384, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Bauer Foundation give grants?
The Bauer Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does The Bauer Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Bauer Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (13 grants).
How large is The Bauer Foundation?
The Bauer Foundation reported $884K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $77K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $96K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Bauer Foundation fund?
The foundation provides scholarship assistance for undergraduate education. Its website describes the assistance as indirect and says eligibility is based on merit and need for students residing in Connecticut Regional School District One. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Bauer Foundation?
The 2024 filing lists a scholarship application form and a restriction that applicants reside in Regional School District 1. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Bauer Foundation's EIN?
The Bauer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6032985. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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